Here's what you need to know and what documents to bring with you before you apply for a Howard County marriage license application. We recommend getting this legal aspect of your wedding out of the way about a month before your ceremony date.

Marriage License Howard County

ID Requirement in Howard County:

If you are between 18 - 21, you must provide identification in the form of a drivers license or birth certificate. Only one applicant needs to be present. We recommend bringing identification with you even if you are over 21.

Residency Requirement:

You do not have to be a resident of Maryland. However, you must be married in the county where you purchased your license.

Application Requirement:

Parties should contact the local Court in the County in which they are to be married to determine if both parties need to present upon making application for marriage.

If you are not a resident of Howard County, AND it is not convenient for you to visit the Clerk's Office, you may apply for a marriage license using a Non-Resident Application. The Non-Resident Marriage Application is available in fillable PDF (right-click on the link to save the form to your PC). If you come to the Clerk's Office, then the marriage application must be completed on-site at the Clerk's Office.

Previous Marriages:

Howard County requires that you show your divorce decree, or have information regarding date, county and state of death of your previous spouse.

Covenant Marriage Option: No.

Waiting Period in Howard County:

There is a waiting period of 48 hours in Howard County to get married.

How Much a Marriage License Cost in Howard County:

The marriage license fee in Howard County is $50, cash only.

If you have completed a state recognized pre-marital preparation course, you may receive a discount on the license fee.

Other Tests:

No blood test required.

Proxy Marriages:

No.

Cousin Marriages:

Yes.

Common Law Marriages:

No.

Same Sex Marriages:

Yes. As of January 1, 2013, same-sex marriage is legal in Maryland.

Under 18:

Parental consent is needed if under 18 years of age. If you are between 16-18 years of age, one of your parents or guardian must be with you and provide written consent.

If you are under 16 years of age, you will need both the written consent of your custodial parent or guardian and the written approval of a judge of the Orphans' Court Division of the Court of Common Pleas.

If you are under 18, pregnant or have a child, and show a certificate from a licensed physician stating you are pregnant or have had a child, the parental consent requirement may be waived.

Name Change:

Getting a marriage license with your new name on it does not mean your name has automatically changed. If you need to change your last name, you can use an online marriage name change kit.